The Lagos State Government has called on residents to actively participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, July 25, by cleaning their surroundings and disposing of waste responsibly.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made the appeal in a post on his official X handle on Friday.
Wahab urged residents to take advantage of the sanitation exercise to clean their homes and neighborhoods, properly bag household waste and dispose of it only at approved collection points for evacuation.
He described a clean, healthy and sustainable Lagos as a shared responsibility that requires the commitment and active participation of every resident.
The commissioner also advised residents to inspect drainage channels around their homes for blockages, silt and debris before the exercise.
He urged them to clear drains in front of their properties and avoid sweeping refuse back into drainage channels, warning that such practices contribute significantly to flooding.
Wahab further cautioned residents against discharging kitchen wastewater, grey water and sewage into stormwater drains, noting that the practice undermines environmental sanitation and public health.
He encouraged residents to report heavily blocked drainage channels requiring mechanical intervention to their respective local government drainage units before the sanitation exercise.
The commissioner also called on landlords and property owners to organise sanitation activities within their premises by assigning cleaning responsibilities to tenants and ensuring that drainage channels, culverts and gutters are regularly cleared.
According to him, property owners should provide adequate waste bins and designated waste collection points within their compounds while maintaining septic tanks and soakaways to prevent sewage overflow into public spaces.
Wahab further urged residents to report cases of illegal waste dumping to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) or sanitation officers in their local government areas.
“A cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos is our collective responsibility. Together, let us play our part in keeping our communities clean,“ he said.
source: NAN
